Lennon & McCartney - Composing The Beatles Songbook 1957-1965

Debating the inside workings of pop’s greatest partnership

And so The Beatles scholarship industry continues to grow with the arrival of another retrospective documentary, albeit one with a very particular angle this time. This time it’s a forensic-style examination of the evolution and unravelling dynamics of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s songwriting partnership, from their initial meeting in 1957 right up to the release of Rubber Soul at the close of 1965. Can’t tell the difference between a Lennon and a McCartney song when they were all uniformly credited to Lennon & McCartney? Then this will be entertaining viewing.

Taking the form of a selective analysis and discussion of key songs, special treatment is reserved for a select group of classics from A Hard Day’s Night, Beatles For Sale, Help! and Rubber Soul, highlighting the defining characteristics and idiosyncrasies of both halves of the partnership. Along the way a mix of illuminating observations and an accompanying quota of critical chin-stroking is generated by a cast including Beatles associates Klaus Voorman, Barry Miles, Maureen Cleaves and a specially assembled team of Fab Four specialists.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Pride/Chrome Dreams | PGDVD 106

Reviewed by Grahame Bent
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